petroleum and natural gas have given way to a significant increase in the need for oil in the world. Petroleum provides about 40 per cent of the commercial energy used in the world. Think of all the things, petroleum is used for cars, planes, shipping, electricity, industries, cooking, agriculture and so on so froth and these are only a few of the seemingly endless list of uses we have for petroleum. All of these appliances, which require oil as a means of power, however have an underlying problem to them. Only in the last 30 years have we really begun to realize this power and make significant efforts to cut down on this problem. This problem is pollution. As arguably our most vital natural resource, petroleum also is the cause of much of the world’s pollution through emissions of Carbon Monoxide, Carbon Dioxide, smog and acid rain. As a result of either direct or indirect use of this fuel, petroleum is leaving horrendous repercussions on the ozone, the land and human, the plant and animal life.

There are many forms of pollution by petroleum but none more so than air pollution. Factories, homes, office buildings, motor vehicles, and the burning of garbage and trash cause air pollution from petroleum. Air pollution turns clear, odourless air into hazy, smelly air that harms health everything requiring oxygen, kills plants (which purify our air), and damage property. Most outdoor air pollution results in the combustion of petrol/diesel and other petroleum products. The burning of oil to power motor vehicles such as cars, boats, and airplanes are examples of how gases such as carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and other dangerous gases escape into the atmosphere. Each time a fuel is burned in a combustion process, some type of pollutant is released into the air. Some serious effects, caused by air pollution by combustion of petroleum products include, respiratory diseases such as asthma, bronchitis, and emphysema. Air pollution also harms plant. Poisonous gases in the air restrict the growth of, and eventually suffocate and kill, nearly all types of plants. These plant work to purify the air around us, to keep us from breathing in polluted oxygen.

During the last three decades, energy use in India has followed the global trend where consumption of petroleum has grown more steeply than other energy sources. With the upsurge in India economy and industries, the country has faced the challenges of balancing the growing demand of petroleum fuel against the shortage of supplies. The nation has intensified efforts to boost energy production from conventional resources like petroleum and coal, but this is a short medium term solution. Besides, very low energy efficiency across all sections of Indian economy has further aggravated the situation. In such a critical scenario, improved energy efficiency through technology and conservation methods, seemed to be the most viable option for a sustainable energy management as well as sustained growth. PCRA (Petroleum Conservation Research Association), under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, is working in this direction and has become the centre of excellence for conservation of petroleum fuel and environment protection.

Energy Security, Energy Efficiency and Environment Protection go hand in hand. As for the future of fossil fuel is concerned, the only thing certain is that petroleum has a limited supply. As more and more economics in the world are in the transition from under-developed to developing nation or from developing to developed nation, their dependence on fossil fuels is bound to multiply and with finite resources of these fossil fuels, all countries around the world ought to work towards their own energy security.

Thus Energy Security becomes critically important for every country. When we talk about energy security, efficient utilization of energy undoubtedly takes a key role. This energy efficiency, on the other hand, is very crucial to reduce carbon dioxide emissions leading to a clean environment. As energy efficiency and conservation are the two sides of the same coin, conservation of petroleum products thus substantially lead to sustainable environmental protection.

As the consumption of petroleum has steadily increased over the course of the last few decades, oil reserves could be depleted much sooner than projected.

This gives the world two options: to find alternative fuel sources or to cut down on fuel consumption. To date, scientists have yet to find a feasible alternative fuel, which is as efficient as petroleum and emits less pollution. Therefore, the only other option in order to maintain use of petroleum is to conserve oil and at the same time cut down on the pollution spilled onto the earth.